Midterms (the college ones) & Lots of Reading // October 2018 Wrap Up

I voted for my top picks of the year on Goodreads, so you know what that means, actually probably you don’t. (because you can’t read my mind) But all this means, it’s almost the end of 2018! Only 2 months left!!! What??? (and 7 days left to vote in the midterms, so voting age American friends, GO VOTE)

And the leaves are turning, there are PUMPKINS everywhere, and it’s crispy cool outside!!! I LOVE IT!

I am Snoopy

A Very Large Expanse of Sea ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️– This books is so incredibly personal and important. Everyone needs to read this.

Shadow and Bone – ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Okay, so the first book in the Grisha trilogy. Yay for reading! Leigh Bardugo is fun!

Siege and Storm – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Finally, Nikolai shows up. Also, the Darkling is a major jerk.

Ruin and Rising – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mal and Alina are cute and I don’t understand the Mal hate. What is wrong with the book community?

Heart of Iron – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ This was so FUN! I loved it, even if the plot felt a little lost sometimes. Okay, it’s Anastasia in SPACE. Who doesn’t love this idea?

Throne of Glass #7 came out and we can all be finally done with this series. Forever, please. But if you want to know some reasons why I’m done with SJM, here’s anexcellent reviewfrom Aentee at Read At Midnight detailing how ToG stole plot directly from Lord of the Rings. PSA to writers, don’t rip ideas from Tolkien. Cause you can’t do it better.

Speaking of SJM, May wrote a hilarious roast of all the SJM crazy fans. People, pay attention. If you’re writing, don’t be trash to minority readers. If you’re a reader, don’t dismiss other people’s hurt because YOU can’t understand it.

I actually wrote quite a bit this month! If you had asked me at the beginning of the month, if I was expecting to write, I would have said, no way! But somehow, writing happened. I doubled my WIP word count and I’m so excited to keep writing this story. Right now. I’m trying to finish this manuscript by the end of 2018.

Here’s a snippet…between my two favorites Beach and Addison, aka, the best brother/sister duo in the world.

In which I don’t really talk about monthly states. but I do share my top posts of the month!

So, the first two posts I definitely published this month. But my Harry Potter post? That’s like two years old! But for some reason people kept reading it this month?It even showed up in google searches! How cool? (but weird? Because this post is so old and *cringe*)

Okay, so October was completely, completely packed.

The MOST exciting thing that happened was attending Read Up Greenville. And I was able to meet Becky Albertalli and Ashley Poston. Adam Silvera was sick 🙁 So he wasn’t able to be there.

Meeting Becky Albertalli was incredible. I shared with her my current WIP, which is about the 2016 election and my characters falling in love and growing. And Becky Albertalli was so encouraging!

Also, I haven’t had a ton of time lately to watch any tv. But what I have watched has been GREAT.

Man in the High Castle Season 3

Okay, so this show is intense. And I can’t watch it all at once because it’s heartbreaking and so suspenseful.

I’ve watched episodes 1-5 and I’m still completely in awe of Rufus Sewell and his incredible acting. Seriously, his acting is 100% why I keep watching this show.

I did think this was the last season? But apparently not? Definitely not complaining.

Oh, and I discovered that oatmeal is super cheap? So when I don’t have time to head to campus dining I can make oatmeal in my dorm room, and yay, that’s great, too!

And I almost forgot! I was able to see Anastasia the Broadway Musical on tour! It’s beautiful! I fell in love with Dmitri!

On another note, my personal instagram was deleted, (YIKES, I DON’T KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENED) Having to start completely over with insta is HARD 😭

So, if you want to check out my Insta, here tis @lizinthenews! Personally, I think I make some great IGTV videos, so check me out 🙂

Can I make it to Thanksgiving break?I think I can, I think I can, I think I can….

And Nano is next month!!! Time for all the writing!

Speaking of which, November is going to verrrrrryyyyy busy. I have some final gigantic papers due, and the NCCAA Volleyball tournaments are hosted at my school. Which means, I’ll be working crazy hours taping games!

Oh, and the final season of House of Cards is coming out and I really need a small break to binge watch Clair Underwood take over the world.

Should I take a blogging hiatus? I actually might, especially the third week of November. If you know me, you know I struggle with doing it ALL. and taking breaks is HARD. but it will probably be a good idea, to take a week hiatus or so. 🙂

Some books I’m working on reading in November

How was your October?Have you had lots of pumpkin spice lately? Are you dressing up for Halloween? Best books you read this month? Have you ever watched The Man in the High Castle? Are you a fan of House of Cards? Are you doing Nano in November? Books you’re planning on reading in November?

23 Comments

Sounds like you’ve had a lovely month! Beach and Addison sound so fun! I can’t wait to hear more about them! I’ve had a pretty good October writing wise! I’ve made a lot of progress on two of my WIPs and I also wrote an entire short story! I haven’t done much NaNo prep, but I still have a day. Haha. 😅

I love reading about things people are doing outside of blogging, like you having fun with your oatmeal! 😉 I’m also hoping to read Girls of Paper and Fire in November, I’ve heard amazing things about it! Good luck for nano <3

I’m loving this season of The Man in the High Castle so far! But you’re right, it’s intense. Can’t binge this one. And I don’t get the Mal hate either! Everyone loved the Darkling, but he was such a jerk. I mean, I get that Mal was stupid and blind in the beginning, but he totally redeemed himself, and his flaws were so minor in comparison to the Darkling’s.

I’m not sure I can make it past episode 5 of Man in the High Castle. 😂 I’m just freaking out over a specific character 😂 And now I’m distracted by House of Cards.
Mal is ADORABLE and totally real and I just love how sweet he is. I mean, choose the guy who wants to exterminate humanity and uses you, or the guy who is worried about you and genuinely concerned for your emotional health and willing to die to save humanity. *eyeroll*

People have warned me about mid-season, so I’m having trouble watching more episodes because I’m scared. And I have no idea what I’m supposed to be scared of, it’s driving me crazy! And *eyeroll* pretty much sums it up. I get the lure of tall, dark and dangerous, but Mal is just GOLDEN. I would’ve been so frustrated if he didn’t get the happy ending.

Ahh, I enjoyed Saints and Misfits, too! I really want to read History is All You Left Me, even though I KNOW it’s just going to shatter my heart into even more fragments. *clears throat* *wipes away tears from when I read TBDATE a year ago* AHHH, YOU MET BECKY ALBERTALLI. That’s so amazing, I’m over here fangirling right now. I love Salt to the Sea SO much, I hope you get to read it this month. Have a wonderful November! 🙂

Saints and Misfits is so good! I’m surprised I haven’t seen more people reading it??? Um, yes, it takes a very long time to recover from Adam Silvera and trademark heartbreak.
Hope your November is going fantastically!

My October was crazy because I had SO many articles to write (I’m the chief news reporter at my student magazine!) and some big essays too. But luckily lectures are over now and I only have two exams left. I also went to see the Nutcracker (on halloween haha) and went to a lot more parties than normal (including my own party, which was for my birthday, and I had afternoon tea in the botanic gardens with my friends. I also read some books but I haven’t reviewed any of them yet and they all kinda blur together lol.

Oh, I know!!! I’m in charge of our broadcast tv station and it’s SO MUCH WORK. And then exam and homework try to steal my ENTIRE LIFE.
Afternoon tea??? In Botanical gardens??? that sounds so LOVELY!
I hope you get a chance to rest in November! take care!

I’m happy you enjoyed We Are Okay and overall liked Grace & Fury, I’ve been wanting to read these two for a little while now 😀
I’m so happy you got back to writing a bit, best of luck for it all, you can do this!! I also want to try and finish my current edit for the end of the year, but I have no idea if I’ll be able to make it haha 🙂 Fingers crossed for both of us! 🙂
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on The Night Circus. I recently read it and loved it 🙂
I hope you’ll have a wonderful November!! <3

Good luck on your edits!!! I know it can be exhausting, so take care!
Um, the Night Circus is not exactly my fav read…😭 It’s just a little too descriptive and weird time jumps and not much plot? And I’m halfway through and sad that it’s not grabbing me.

Thank you so much! ❤️
Oh I 200% get that. I was so confused most of the time while reading it, too, but I think that the fact that I enjoyed the writing and the world overall helped haha. I hope that maybe you’ll enjoy it a bit more towards the end! ❤️

Ahhh I loved reading your recap! And SO much amazingness here omg. That’s the best that you got to meet Becky Albertalli (and also History Is All You Left Me nearly made me cry too?! I love Adam Silvera’s books but aafjdksl why does he want to hurt us so😂) And I loved that snippet! Siblings in stories are besssst.